France: Delays still disrupting air traffic Paris airports /update 2

Event

Exceptionally long wait times have been reported at security checkpoints and immigration controls at Paris-Orly International Airport (ORY) and Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport in recent weeks. Airport representatives continue to point out that the security measures responsible for such delays are unavoidable in light of the current high terrorism threat. In an attempt to reduce waiting times, 100 extra police personnel will be stationed at Paris airports to increase the number of security checkpoints available beginning on Friday, July 14; these agents are currently expected to remain in place through August 31.

Many airlines have been advising travelers to arrive at the airport at least three hours ahead of their flights, with at least one airline (Corsair) advising four hours. The waiting times - up to two hours by some accounts - have resulted in a large number of flight delays and chaotic scenes at the airport. According to the French airline, Air Azur, nearly 70 percent of flights departing from ORY have been delayed in the past few weeks.

The situation is likely to worsen at ORY on Friday with the departure of US President Donald Trump, who landed at ORY on Thursday for French National Day (Bastille Day) festivities.

Context

France is still under a nationwide state of emergency and as such intensified security measures have been implemented at French airports, including numerous identification checks and security scanning. Various airline personnel have argued that these measures are ill-adapted for the summer holiday season, with hundreds of thousands of extra passengers flying.

This weekend alone (July 14-July 16), over 223,000 passengers and 118,000 passengers are expected at ORY and CDG, respectively.

Advice

Travelers are advised to confirm the status of their flights prior to departure for the airport, contact their airlines for more information, and be prepared for lengthy wait times.